Individual container sealer



Dec. 7, 1948. E. E. ANDERSON 2,455,461

INDIVZIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 194555144420 Amos-e50,

INVENTOR.

BY f "/54,

ATTOPNE'X 1948- E. E. ANDERSON 2,455,461

INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER Filed March 30, 1945 ZSheets-Sheet 2 i POWER.s'u mr Jbnmeo fln/osesong INVENTOR.

VBY

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 PATENT o INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER SEALER" Edward E.AndersonpLoma Linda, Calif. Application March 30, 1945, Serial No.585,637

1 Claim. 1

This invention pertains to a simple, inexpensive device for applying acover made of a sheet of flexible material such as Cellophane, to thetop of a carton, tube, container or the'like.

Many foodstuffs and other commodities are being dispensed in cartons orcontainers made of paper which is either impregnated or coated with wax,parafiin or other heat-responsive material adapted to increase thestrength and render the body of the container impermeable to moisture.Cottage cheese and many other articles are dispensed in such packages.In many instances these containers are of the open top variety and it isonly necessary to apply a sheet of material such as Cellophane, over theopen top in order to protect the contents from. contamination. Often thegrocer or retail distributor fills such containers from bulk suppliesand the housewife uses the container only as a means ofcarrying theproduct from the store to her home. Strong or permanent coverings orseals are not essential undersuch conditions. i

The present invention, therefore, is directed to a small, simple, yeteificient device whereby the individual grocer or storekeeper mayrapidly and easily cover and seal small containers.

Generally stated, the invention relates to a device whereby the clerk orother'operator may place a sheet of Cellophane or other heat-responsivematerial over the open top of a container which he has filled with thedesired product and by the actuation of a single element, cause suchcover sheet to, conform to the upper edge areas of the container and beheat-sealed thereto. In

the device of the present invention means are,

provided whereby the single energizing member lifts the container intosealing position and also actuates the heat-sealing elements, themovements of the heat-sealing elements and of the lifter being socorrelatedthat the. containeris maintained in lifted elements movetoward and away from the closure. In one of the g by the presentinvention, means are provided whereby a yielding pressure is maintainedupon the containerand adjustments may be readily madeso that containersof different sizes may be handled.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to disclose andprovide a simple and efiicient device for sealing the covers of fibrouscontain'ers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may beoperated either manually, electrically or by pressure fluid, in which asinposition while the heating forms of devices embraced 7 2 glereciprocatable energizing member the'elements. in timed relation. Theseand other objects of the invention .will

become apparent to those skilled in the art from 5 thefollowingdescription. In order'tofacilitate understanding, reference will be hadto pended drawings, in which:

.As previously stated, the machines ofithisinvention are particularlyadapted for use. byv

grocers and other shopkeepers. Itis recognized that various cappingand'sealing machines have been devised heretofore but substantiallyallof these prior machines are for usev plants which produce tremendousnumbers-of containers filledwith condiments, foodstuffs, etc.

Such large complicated machines arenot adapt ed for use by anindividualgrocer.

The machine shownin 'Figs nl, 2,and 3 isjfa 2'5 manually operablemachine andfconsists of, a vertical framework l0 supported by'the baseH;

the framework being provided with a work table A standard 13 extendsand. carries an, annulus being indicated at 15., The standard l3 alsocarriesal circular plate It l2 at a suitablelheight. above the worktable I2 31)"!4, the internal opening having downwardly extending lipsatlits outer edges so as to form 'a downwardly ezitending cup? c Theannulus' lc and the plate lq are in parallel, verticallyspaced,stati0nary relaor recess ll.

tionship.

A pair of opposing semi circula'r heating' elements [8 and 19 (bestshown in Fig. 3 are piv-f otally'mounted upon the standard 33 so as tobe 6a movable toward and awayiromeagihibtheifi in'a' annulus and plate.The el'e-" l8 and 19 may have preformedheatih g: surfaces zone betweensaid ments elements carried by their inner concave as indicated .at I8and i9. Theheating elevments per se may be supplied rent from anysuitable source maintain such elements at a ture, a thermostat 20 may beboth of the elements.

scription, the jaws or carriers together with their heating elementswill be'generically' referred to as heating elements.

and. inv order to Acircular recess formed in the work'table 12'immediately beneath and in axial alignment with ?the annulus M containsa lifting'plat'2 iinounted actuates the ape I Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of one form of main factories or with electric cur-"j desiredtempera carried by one or In order to simplify de.

upon the upper end of a rod 22 extending through a suitable sleeve orbearing 23 carried by the lower side of the work table |2. The lower endof the rod 22 rests upon a lever 24 pivoted to the frame or standard IDat 25. A cup 26 may be carried by the lever 24, the end of the rod 22fitting loosely into the cup.

A foot treadle 21 pivoted to the frame at 28 is provided with abifurcated end portion 29 extending around an upstanding reciprocatableenergizing member 30 carrying a stop or cross piece 3| which normallyrests upon the bifurcated end 29 of the treadle 21. The upstandingreciprocatable member 30 is provided with an adjustable collar 32fastened thereon against which a compression spring 33 rests, the upperend of the spring bearing against a folding collar which supports thelever 24. The upper end of the energizing member 30 slidably fits into asleeve or cylinder closed at the upper end, the upper end of the sleevehaving toggle links 35 and 35 pivotally attached thereto as at 31, theother ends of the links being connected to levers 38 and 39respectively. The levers 38 and 39 are pivoted as at 48 and 4| to across member 42 of the supporting frame. The upper ends of such levers38 and 39 are preferably provided with ball ends fitting into socketsformed in the jaw elements l9 and i8. Springs 44 and 45 are connected tothe lower portions of levers 38 and 39 for the purpose of facilitatingreturn of the jaw'elements Hi and I9 to their normal open position. Acompressible spring is contained within the sleeve fitting over the endof member 30 for the purpose of delaying the movement of the toggle andlevers until the lifting plate has been actuated.

In operation, the operator, having filled a suitable container with thedesired product, places a sheet of Cellophane or other heat-responsivematerial over the top of the container and then places the assembly uponthe lifting plate 2|. By actuating the treadle 21, upward movement isimparted to the energizing member 30. Such upward movement actuates thelever 24 and causes the lifting plate 2| to rise, thereby moving theupper portion of the container through the annulus I4. The annuluspermanently folds the sheet of material around the edge of thecontainer. The top of the container then enters the circular plate Itand the lip of such plate folds the sheet material around the edge. Thesheet material is pressed into contact with the upper edge of thecontainer. A yielding pressure is maintained by the lifting plateagainst the bottom of the container as the energizing member 30continues its upward travel, the additional upward travel being absorbedby the spring 33. Such additional upward travel, however, actuates thetoggle links 35 and 36, causing the levers 38 and 39 to pivotally movethe heating elements 18 and I9 toward each other so as to encircle andfirmly press against the sides of the container in a zone immediatelybeneath the upper edge of the container. The heating elements thusfirmly press and simultaneously heat the Cellophane or other coveringsheet against the container and cause such covering sheet to beheat-bonded to the container.

When pressure is removed from the treadle 21, the springs 44 and 45return the jaws or heating elements l8 and I9 to their original openposition and the lifting plate 2| is not lowered until the energizingmember 39 has moved a considerable distance so that the spring 33 issubstantially fully expanded. In this manner the container is notwithdrawn from the device until the jaws I8 and 19 have opened, therebypermitting a container having a head or outward flange at its upper endto be maintained within the device until the jaws have opened.

The device illustrated in Fig. 4 is a table model capable of being usedupon a counter, shelf or the like. It consists of a suitable lowerhousing 50, the upper surface of which furnishes a work table l2. Thestandard l3 extends'upwardly and sup ports the annulus l4 and the uppercircular plate i6 as described hereinbefore. The semi-circular heatingelements IB and H! are here provided with rearwardly extending integralfingers 58 and 59, the rearward ends of such fingers being provided withdownwardly extending lips. Toggle links 69 are connected to thedownwardly extending lips of the fingers 58 and 59 and to a bifurcatedend portion 6| of a reciprocatable energizing member 62 which isconnected to a piston 93 in a pressure cylinder 64 located within thehousing 59. A lever 65 pivoted at 66 and provided with a forked end 61engages a cross pin 86 extending through the energizing member 62. Theopposite end of such lever is pivotally connected to a plunger 69 as at19. The plunger 39 extends into a hollow shaft 1| connected to a liftingplate 2| which is normally supported within a recess formed in the topor work table l2. A spring 13 is contained within the hollow shaft 'Hand bears against the top of the plunger 69. A container to be sealed isindicated at 14 and the sheet of superimposed Cellophane or the like isindicated at 15.

The fluid pressure cylinder 64 is provided with conduits connected tothe top and bottom thereof as indicated at 11 and 18, these conduitsleading to a four-way valve 80. The valve is supplied with pressurefluid through line 8| from a pump 82 driven by a suitable electricmotor. The pump is supplied with fluid from a reservoir 83 and the valve89 is also provided with a return line 84 leading back to the reservoir.A suitable pressure relief valve may connect the pressure line 8| withthe return line 84 as indicated at 85.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the device is ready to seal thecontainer. By imparting a quarter turn to the valve 80, the pressureline 8| may be connected with the line 18 leading to the top of thecylinder 64 while simultaneously the bottom of said cylinder isconnected by line 11 to the return line 84. Downward movement of theenergizing member 62 will cause lever 65 to raise the plunger 69 and thelifting plate 2| so as to cause the top of the container to pass throughthe annulus l4 and bear against the recess in the top plate l6.Continued downward movement of the member 62 will actuate the links 69,causing the semi-circular heating elements l8 and I9 to grasp and pressthe cellophane 15 against the container 14. By again turning valve 89 toits original position, the direction of flow of pressure fluid to thecylinder is reversed and the parts return to the position indicated'inFig. 4, thereby lowering the completely sealed container. A completelyenclosed hydraulic system of this type has been found very satisfactory.

It is to be understood that instead of employing liquid pressure,pneumatic pressure may also be used. Electromagnetic means or solenoidmeans may also be employed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments illustrated. Those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that various changes may be made. In actual practice it hasbeen found that Cellophane may be rapidly and efiectively caused toadhere to the waxed or coated exterior surfaces of food containers andadequately protect the contents against contamination.

I claim:

An individual container sealing machine comprising: a work table, alifting plate in said work table, an annulus provided above the liftingplate, a circular plate provided with a downwardly extending lip at itsouter edge positioned above the annulus and in alignment therewith; apair of opposing semi-circular heating elements movable toward and awayfrom each other in a zone between said annulus and plate to grasp andrelease a container whose top extends through the annulus; a verticallyextending reciprocatable energizing member, means for moving saidmember, a toggle linkage between said member and said heating elementsfor imparting si1nultaneous and opposing movement thereto, lever meansfor raising and lowering the lifting plate; and means connecting theenergizing member with said lever for moving the lifting plate, saidmeans including a spring whereby the lifting plate is maintained inyielding contact with a container while the energizing member continuesto move.

